When should we go for the vaccine?

A person who has tested positive for Covid-19 needs one dose after six weeks of infection and a person sceptical about the possibility of infection previously, but was not proven in the laboratory, needs two doses of the vaccine, and a person infected with Covid-19 after taking the first dose of the vaccine, must take the second dose after six weeks have passed since the date of infection.

This was clarified by Dr Zakariya al Balushi, Infectious Disease Consultant, Royal Hospital, who elaborated on cases in which people may doubt the necessity and timing of taking the vaccine.

“There is no need for any tests before taking the vaccine’’, Dr Al Balushi added.

About potential effects of taking the vaccine after recovering from the virus, Dr Al Balushi explained that there are no risks, as some countries are still adopting two-dose policy, even if there was a previous infection, especially the countries where the vaccine is available in large quantities, such as the United States.

Some other countries have adopted one dose policy after the infection. “Both are scientifically correct and proven by studies’’, he added.

NO OBJECTION

The Ministry of Health has clarified that there is no objection to a breastfeeding woman from taking the vaccine. It is recommended not to stop breastfeeding if she took the vaccine. Besides, there are no issues for a woman who plans to become pregnant to take the vaccine. There is no need to have a gap between the vaccine and pregnancy. The Sultanate on Sunday started phase one of the mass vaccination with the second dose administered at different locations.

The Supreme Committee has urged all those from the target group to take the vaccine to protect themselves, their families and their community from this disease, explaining that the vaccine is the safest means to prevent it.

Meanwhile, the number of new cases continues to surge in the country. The Ministry of Health on Monday reported 1,216 new cases of Covid-19 and 11 deaths. The total number of cases registered in the Sultanate has reached 225,095, including 2,424 deaths. The total number of recoveries is 205,305, while the recovery rate is 91.2 per cent. One hundred and fourteen people were admitted to hospitals across the country, bringing the total number of inpatients to 966, including 297 in intensive care units.